Apollo Hospitals has instituted a contemporary Neuro Rehabilitation Programme at the Main Hospital in Chennai. The first of its kind in India, the innovative therapy will help the neurologically impaired patients immensely. Using the latest in technology, the medical team at Apollo Hospitals will help patients in rehabilitation, as well as their families, live their lives to the fullest. Rehabilitation addresses the prevention and correction of the secondary effects of injury and illness.

The rehabilitation equipment has been sourced from Hocoma, based near Zurich, Switzerland is the global leader in robotic rehabilitation therapy for neurological movement disorders. Neurological patients with movement disorders caused by stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis or other neurological diseases and injuries as well as small children with cerebral palsy can benefit from these neuro rehab programmes.

Speaking at the formal inauguration in Chennai, Preetha Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, ""Our patients come to us with immense hope and their loved ones pray that we can work a miracle to help restore normalcy. It has been our constant endeavour to find better and efficient ways to rehabilitate patients with neurological disorders. Ushering in a new hope, Apollo is introducing robotics in neurorehab for the first time in India in association with Hocoma. The latest technology in neuro rehabilitation, it will aid our therapists and patients immensely in the rehabilitation process.""

Participating at the launch, Dr. Gery Colombo, CEO and one of Hocoma's founders said, ""Hocoma's primary goal is the improvement of the therapy of neurological patients. We work with leading hospitals, clinics and scientists across the globe to develop rehabilitation devices to increase therapy success and to support physicians and therapists in their daily work. We are honoured to associate with Apollo Hospitals, Asia's most trusted healthcare provider to offering patients a panacea for their ailment.""

Functional movement and sensory stimulation play an important role in the rehabilitation of neurological patients following stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, as well as in patients with multiple sclerosis or other neurological diseases and injuries. The Lokomat, the robotic locomotion therapy equipment, Armeo, an upper limb rehabilitation device and Erigo, a rehabilitation modality for bed ridden patients have been installed at the Main Apollo Hospital, Chennai

LokomatThe Lokomat is a robotic locomotion therapy device, which is used for patients who have had strokes, spine injuries, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis or other neurological disorders. The Lokomat combines a robotic gait orthosis and an advanced body weight support system with a treadmill. The therapy involves ""task specific learning"" with continuous repetition of movements, based on neuroplasticity. Training sessions are longer and more intensive than manual treadmill training, helping accelerate progress. The Lokomat has robotic arms for adult and paediatric patients. These robotic arms move the paralyzed hips and knees in a pre-programmed way to simulate normal walking, on an automated treadmill, at an adjustable speed. It provides improved patient motivation through visualized performance feedback with assessment tools

ArmeoDesigned for upper limb re-training, the Armeo enables patients to perform exercises that simulate everyday activities, with the use of an adjustable arm support and a highly sensitive handgrip. It can be used for patients who have had strokes, brain injuries or other neurological disorders. The Armeo software captures joint angles and hand path, helping the therapist assess the patient's co-ordination process and progress accurately. Armeo can be customized for individual patients. It offers a large 3-D workspace that allows functional therapy exercises in a virtual reality environment

ErigoThe Erigo accelerates early rehabilitation of debilitated and neurologically impaired patients. Treatment with the Erigo includes verticalisation, leg movement and loading. The device consists of a continuously adjustable tilt table with a robotic stepping mechanism. The stimulation of nerve endings and facilitation of free flow of blood to the brain helps prevent drop in blood pressure level, which can occur when conventional tilt tables are used. The cyclical limb loading promotes wakefulness.

Patients with any neurological condition resulting in inability to walk or use the arm viz. traumatic brain injury, spine injury, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson's Disease and so on would benefit from this innovative neuro rehabilitation programmes.